CRP: A simple marker of low-grade inflammation in polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine condition among women of reproductive age, distinguished by ovulatory failure, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovarian form. Recent information indicates that PCOS is not solely a reproductive issue but also an endocrine and inflammatory condition. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a recognized indicator of systemic inflammation, has been extensively investigated in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), correlating it with resistance to insulin, cardiovascular risk, and obesity.

Objective: To assess blood hs-CRP levels among women with PCOS and examine their correlation with metabolic indicators such as body weight (BMI), resistance to insulin, lipid count, and androgen levels.

Methods: The present cross-sectional research comprised 150 women aged between 18 and 45 years, diagnosed with PCOS based on the Rotterdam criteria. A control group including one hundred matched by age in usual periods was also included. We assessed physical characteristics, fasting blood glucose levels, cholesterol levels, serum testosterone, and hs-CRP. The HOMA-IR index was used to figure out how resistant to insulin someone was. We used SPSS to look at the data.

Results: Women with PCOS exhibited significantly higher hs-CRP levels in comparison to controls (3.8 ± 1.2 mg/L vs. 1.4 ± 0.8 mg/L, p < 0.001). High hs-CRP levels were positively linked to weight (r = 0.54), the HOMA- (r = 0.46), triglycerides in the blood (r = 0.39), and overall testosterone level (r = 0.34). CRP levels were considerably higher in slim PCOS individuals than in BMI-matched controls, demonstrating inflammation that is independent of obesity.

Conclusion: Increased hs-CRP levels in patients with PCOS substantiate the involvement of mild persistent inflammation in its etiology. Inflammation in PCOS seems to be somewhat independent of fat, indicating fundamental metabolic irregularities. Keeping an eye on hs-CRP levels may assist in finding patients who are more likely to have heart and metabolic problems.